TAF program...good-bye...

The Trim and Fit program, or otherwise known as TAF, has been implemented in primary and secondary schools as a means of reducing obesity in children. It mainly consists of subsituting recess time with exercise time, where obese students are expected to exercise when their trimmer friends get to eat during recess time.

Yours truly, due to being vertically-challenged and horizontally-abundant was in this program all the way. Alas, though the idea was great in helping students to get rid of their excess fat, it also created a stigma, as those who were invloved in TAF got ridiculed and teased at, often given labels such as 'fatty pompom' et cetera. It is this unwelcome repercussion as well as the limited results that eventually caused TAF to be discarded.

Frankly speaking, I did have quite a lot of fun at TAF because i got to try out different gym equipment and went for hikes. Besides, when it become apparent that starving the students only created more disgruntlement, the schools even provided healthy snacks such as yoghurt (yummy!)to fight off the hunger. Besides, I get to interact with students from other classes and also form new friendships.

However, it seems that a new program is now in progress, aimed at enforcing a more holistic approach towards health for all students, instead of just the overweight. Known as Personal Responsibility in Daily Effort (PRIDE) for Play program, it seeks to integrate playtime into the school curriculum, on top of physical education periods. It is to introduce 'play' as a means to boost up the physical level of activity in school children and in this way, improve their overall physical and mental health.

It still remains to be seen whether PRIDE will be materialised, yet the concept behind it, which is of course the age-old method of playing reminds us today how deprived the children are in terms of physical activity and playtime. In comparison to our fathers, who lived in kampongs and basically played hide-and-seek, police-and-thief and catch insects, the children of today are preoccupied with video and online games that resulted in them sitting for hours in front of the computer. Alas, good old playtime seems to have been forgotten with the advance in technology.

Foresight & Diligence

During the forum between Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and some 400 Young People's Action Party members, the main issues of Singapore's intrisinic vulnerabilities were brought up again.
Due to our naturally paltry geographical size and limited natural resources, we should have been overlooked in the world if not for our industrious government body and citizens.

MM Lee mentioned in this recent forum, "The biggest mistake any Singaporean can make is to believe that Singapore is an ordinary country that can behave like an ordinary country." Indeed, due to our successes around the world from having one of the most distinguished and efficient airlines and earning the reputation of being a clean and green city to being able to host 2006 IMF conference, we might be inclined to forget our humble beginnings.

Yet, we are able to achieve all that we are today because we are looking at the future and not into the past. MM Lee added: "If Singapore ever loses this kind of Government of capability and integrity, of always looking into the future, planning ahead, it will just sink into nothingness and become an insignificant island. Talent will bleed out. It will never recover. Who will make it recover? Where are the resources?"

As much as this might sound ludicrous at the moment, this scenario might be ominously true if complacency overtakes logical reasoning and foresight. We need to be aware that the achievements accomplished today is due to yesterday's diligence. There is an increasing need to be able to think ahead and plan for the future inthe face of ever-changing global trends. Thus, in order for Singapore to maintain its competitive edge, it is imperative for the government and citizens not only to embrace and adapt to change, but more importantly, to preempt change and emerging trends. In this way, we can ensure that our accomplishments and standards are augmented by a keen foresight, discipline, diligence and a united call to action.

Anger Misplaced...Tragedy resulted

The latest news of Virginia Tech University shooting took the world by shock and has sparked off many discussions ranging from gun control, campus security issues to possible racial conflict.
In the gunman's angst-filled manifesto sent to NBC News, he spoke about the rich and poor divide, in which he felt was unjustified to the point that he saw a need for action. In an attempt to hit out at those he felt were responsible for the plight of the world and had forced him into a corner, he confessed to having no choice but to plan this mass killing spree.
Yet, for all his embittered justifications and rants about oppression and discrimination, his actions of righting injustices left the world in stupefaction and great grief.

It is indeed saddening to hear how one's misguided sense of justice resulted in devastating and tragic causatum. We mourn for the victims who have lost their innocent lives but we mourn even more for the living families and relatives of these victims who had to be subjected to such bereavement. Through this period of grief and anguish, let not condemnation and accusation be the focal point, instead let love, support and encouragement be the paramount undertaking in this situation.

This incident served as a reminder and caution to the world that anger and hatred can only result in disaster and tragedy. It is time to realise that love and understanding is what the world truly needs so that peace may abide...

Surprise!

Project Sshh! is finally over...
Though the surprise was not as nicely executed as i would have like it to be...but the fun was in the process of planning :)
Some things to note though:
1) Timing
This is absoultely crucial in the planning of any surprise party. Coordination of the different groups of people need to be timed exactly in order to avoid any spoiling of the surprise.
2) Nonchalance
Everyone needs to be as natural as possible and feign ignorance and be nonchalant about the whole thing. Too much excitement exhibited before the exact launch of the surprise could easily let the cat out of the bag.
3) Cooperation
There must be full cooperation among groups of guests and the event coordinator so as to ensure smooth operation of the whole surprise.

Haha! Just some observations and i must most certainly thank all who've helped in Project Sshh! one way or another, thank you so much, really appreciate it!
Anyway, surprises are just so great to have! Haha, still remembered the time when my JC friends caught me unawares by dropping by my house when we were supposed to meet outside, i must admit i was in quite unglam attire, opps!
I think it's really great joy to be able to surprise your loved ones, to see their faces lit up with unexpected pleasure and sometimes, even that drop of tear or two because they're just so touched and overwhelmed :)
Behind every surprise, there's a great deal of background work to be done but it's all worth it when that special person that you planned the surprise for gets the pampering they deserve for being such great people and be delighted at the unexpected astonishment ;)

Tea, anyone?

Tea Chapter - this new cool place that i discovered along Neil Road.

Basically, it serves Chinese tea - all kinds actually from floral tea, delicate tea to strong aromatic tea etc. The place is adorned with calligraphy, paintings and art pieces, most of them Chinese in nature...the area where i drank tea even had a pipa hanging as a wall piece! The place consists of 3 levels with different seating arrangements so as to create different kinds of ambience to suit various tastes. It has a really cosy atmosphere where people can rest and relax even as they savour tea. A great hang-out place to just chill!

"Blithe Spirit"

Another W!ldrice production...ok, for those who don't know, W!ldrice is actually an established theatre company in Singapore that was founded in 2000 by Ivan Heng, one's of Singapore's leading theatre practitioner/director/actor etc ...

Anyway, went to watch their latest production, Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward, directed by Glen Goei and starring Selena Tan/Lim Kay Siu/Neo Swee Lin/Tan Kheng Hua/Gerald Chew/Pam Oei/Celine Rosa Tan.

I must say it was quite excellent for the cast were simply superb in their execution of punchlines, fast exchanges and bodily humour. My one regret, however is that of not being able to see more of Pam Oei in action. Her Flippino accent was done to perfection but stage time for her role was simply too little. Neo Swee Lin and Lim Kay Siu excelled as the bickering husband and wife with just the right amount of tension, especially when Lim's character (Charles)'s late wife(Tan Kheng Hua) appeared to wreak havoc in their relationship. Kudos to Selena Tan as the extremely comical and 'kan cheong' Madame Arcati, in fact she really spiced up the real show with her crazy antics, hilarious trances and wonderful timely delivery of punchlines which totally cracks you up!

The cyan follow-spot to create a blue ghostly effect worked really well as it illuminates Tan's character in an unearthly light without being too spooky and the set was filled with designer furniture to create a sophiscated, modern feel.

Been wanting to watch this production ever since I received the brochure, so went straight to Sistic to book my tickets at the best possible price (heehee, got the early bird discount).

Would recommend to anyone who wants to watch a light-hearted yet professionally done theatre play. But do be prepared to listen very intently as the play contains a lot of bombastic words and the exchanges between the characters are rather fast-paced, do concentrate or you would probably miss the dialogue and go 'huh?' :)

Easter Drama Finale

After 3 days of running, "The Day God Died" (Charis Easter Drama 2007) has come to an end...and it has just been a real amazing journey for all involved!
You should so see all of us rushing to wear our costumes in time for the next scene, as well as the stagehands fumbling their way in the dark to change the backdrop and arrange the necessary props, kudos to the backstage crew as well as sound & light team!

As usual, I thoroughly enjoyed myself throughout the rehearsals and even actual runs (despite some glitches here and there, but hey! drama's live show k!)...Hahaha, had lots of fun taking pictures with everyone, especially with my two-faced make-up (Many thanks to super A.Justene!). A.Justene really spent a lot of time making me up, trying to make me look real beautiful on one side while looking real ugly and gross on the other side. Heehee, and also my many requests to make the make-up worse and worse each day, so that on the last day of the show i looked so horrible that i couldn't even bear to look at myself in the mirror (yes! it was that bad!).
The funniest part was that during breakfast time, even the cast said that i looked so bad that they couldn't look at me for too long or else they'll lose their appetite! Hahaha :P Guess I kind of succeeded in grossing out people.
Ok, for those who are curious about how i looked, i'll post the pictures when i get them, just don't see the pictures on a full stomach, wouldn't want you to puke out your food, heehee :P

A million thanks to God for everything, especially the salvations!

Tomorrow's the Big Day!

Guess what?!
Tomorrow's the Big Day! For?
Aiya, what else....Good Friday Drama lah!
So exciting!!!
The whole production team have really put in alot of effort for this drama, with all the late-night rehearsals, rush-changing of costumes, renting and buying of costumes and make-up, renting, mixing and plotting of the sound and light equipment and many more.

A Big THANK YOU for all the hard work put in for the kingdom of God.
May the Lord bless all of you abundantly :)

April's Fool?

Well...1st April was April fools' day...hmm, but didn't get to play any practical jokes on anyone, sigh, wasted!
Still remembered the last time when April fools' day was on Sunday as well...haha, me and this friend of mine actually went around offering to make tea for people and instead of putting in sugar, we added salt! Hahaha, the expressions on the faces of those who drank the salty was super hilarious, heehee :P
Then, heard from some of my friends that they actually replaced the original vanilla filling of oreo cookies with toothpaste and offered it to their friends who couldn't tell the difference, even after eating it! Can you imagine?! I mean, vanilla filling should taste very different from toothpaste, right? Oh well.....

Decided to check out the history of this prank-galore day and this is what i got:
April Fools' Day, sometimes called All Fools' Day, is one of the most light hearted days of the year. Its origins are uncertain. Some see it as a celebration related to the turn of the seasons, while others believe it stems from the adoption of a new calendar.
Apparently, its origins are rather uncertain and there's only a vague association of its origins with New Year's Day. It is said that April Fools' used to signify New Year's Day but then New Year's Day was changed to another date. However, some traditionalists refused to change, hence they were made fun of by others who sent them "fool's errands" or trying to trick them into believing something false. Eventually, the practice spread throughout Europe.

So, anyway...Happy belated April Fools' Day! :P